Telescope waterseal connector



Oct. 31, 1967 1.. E. DAUM TELESCOPE WATERSEAL CONNECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 30. 1965 INVENTOR. LEONARD E. DAUM kwmw ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1967 DAUM 3,350,677

TELESCOPE WATERSEAL CONNECTOR Filed March so, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'iNVENTOR. LEONARD E. DAUM ATTORNEY L. E. DAUM 3,350,677

TELESCOPE WATERSEAL CONNECTOR I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 30, 1965 I INVENTOR. LEONARD E. DAUM ATTORNEY United States Patent l 3,350,677 TELESCOPE WATERSEAL CONNECTOR Leonard E.'Daum, Morristown, N.J., assignor to Elastic Stop Nut Corporation of America, Union, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 443,976 Claims. (Cl. 339-449) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector having facilities for selectively accommodating electrical cables of relatively larger or smaller diameter, the cables having a jacket of insulating material surrounding an electrical conductor, and the jacket of the selected cable received telescopically within the body of the connector and gripped in watertight engagement with the connector body, the connector including a housing of insulating elastomeric material'with a bore therein communicating with a hollow at the innermost portions of the housing and having stepped dimensions establishing outer and inner bore portions of at least two different diameters corresponding to the larger and smaller diameters, respectively, of the cable jackets, the relative dimensions of the diameter of each selected jacket of insulating material and each corresponding bore portion being such that a corresponding bore portion will be resiliently dilated to receive and engage the jacket of a selected cable in watertight relationship, the innermost bore portion having a diameter no smaller than the diameter of the conductor of the largest cable to be accommodated within the connector to allow passage of the conductor through the innermost bore portion without further dilation of the bore portion engaged with the cable jacket.

This invention relates to telescope waterseal connectors, and more particularly to such devices for joining insulated electrical conductors, such as an incoming or supply line conductor, to an outgoing or branch conductor.

Heretofore such connectors were made to receive the same size. incoming and outgoing conductors, requiring a large inventory where many different, sizes of conduc:

ing or dividing the same to supply one or more branches of different size conductors, and providing a telescope.

waterseal insulated connection therefor.v

One such connector of the multiple type may supply one size to each of several dwelling houses, another size to another connector barservicing several homes, and another size to one or morestreet lamps. The connections for the a respective sizes must be watertight, and to furnish adaptors for dilferent sizes creates a serious supply problem.

It is therefore another object .of the present invention to provide a waterseal telescope'multiple outlet bar connector having built in, self-contained, or stepped receptacles adapted to respectively accommodate difl'erent size inlet insulation jacketed conductors and to respectively receive larger, smaller, or intermediate sizes of outlet insulator jacketed conductors for connection tothe bus bar.

According to the present invention, the telescope waterseal connector comprises a hollow block of insulation, a first conductor in the hollow of said block, said block having a cavity joining the hollow of said block to receive a second conductor, said first conductor having a terminal registering with said cavity, said second conductor being covered with insulation stripped back to bare the entering terminal thereof for connection to the terminal of said first conductor, said cavity having an inner portion of reduced capacity to receive one size of insulation of a smaller second conductor, and an outer portion of enlarged capacity to receive a larger size of insulation of a larger second conductor.

In the multiple form, a bus bar is embedded in or surrounded by a block of insulation having a plurality of bosses distributed therealong, each having an inner portion of reduced diameter to receive one size of insulation of a conductor, and an outer portion of enlarged diameter to alternately receive a larger size of insulation, both in waterproof contact. Preferably the enlarged. portion has an insulating plug therein also in waterproof contact. Preferably the plug has a central bore with a dowel therein in waterproof contact and removable from said central bore to receive a smaller size of insulation. Inasmuch as the lead in from the distributor transformer is the largest size, the bar connector is supplied with one of the bored and doweled plugs missing. I

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a multiple telescope waterseal connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is similarto FIGURE 2, aranged for a smaller conductor;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view for an intermediate size;

FIGURE 5 is for a larger size conductor;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of another embodiment; and

: FIGURE 7 is an assembly of the same.

The multiple connector shown comprises a first conductor 10, preferably a distributor bus bar of conductive metal, such as copper or aluminum. The bus bar is embedded in and substantially surrounded by a body in the form of a housing or block of insulation 12.

showing the parts The block 12 is provided with a plurality' of branch bosses 16 arranged to leave a space 14 for strappingto mount the block on a suitable support. Each of the bosses 16 has a bore 18 to receive appropriate cables as shown at 40, 44, and 48 in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 respectively. These cables are to be connected to the bus bar 10, whichhas a bare portion formed by a socket 22 registering with each of the bosses 16. i y

The bosses 16 are preferably in the face of the block 12, which has access bores 24 in the side thereof and registering with the sockets 22. The bus bar 16 has a threaded bore 26 of reduced diameter registering respectively with each of the access bores 24, and each receiving a screw 28 provided with a metal follower 29 for clamping the connector against the opposite side of the socket 22. Outside of the screw 28, .each access bore 24 is provided with a rubber cap 25 fitted in the bore in waterproof relation.

Each of thebores 18 in the branch bosses 16 has an inner portion 30 of reduced diameter, and an outer portion 32 of enlarged diameter. As shown in FIGURE 2, each enlarged portion 32 is fitted with a plug of elastomeric material such as rubber, forming a combination cap and adaptor 34. The plug 34 has a central bore 36 which is fitted with a dowel 38 of plastic such as nylon.

The plug 34 makes a waterproof seal. with the enlarged portion 32 ofbore 18 and V p the dowel 38 makes a waterproof seal with the central bore 36 in the plug.

As shown in FIG; 3, for the smallest cables with an,

dowel 38 is removed, and the cable 40 passed through the bore 36 in watertight contact therewith, and the bared end of the conductor 42 clamped under the follower 29.

As shown in FIG. 4, for the cables With an outside diameter range of 1615-.785 of an inch, the plug 34 is removed and the cable 44 is passed through the enlarged portion 32 of bore 18 and makes watertight contact with the reduced diameter portion 30 of bore 18, and the bared end of the conductor 46 clamped under the follower 29.

As shown in FIG. 5, for cables with an outside diameter range of .775-.945 inch, the cable 48 enters the enlarged portion 32 of bore 18, and makes waterproof contact therewith. The bared conductor 50 passes through the reduced diameter portion 30 of bore 18, and is clamped under the follower 29.

As shown in FIGURE 6, a modified form of telescope waterseal connector comprises an elastomeric receptacle body 52 and a plug body 54 both of insulating material. The receptacle body has a receptacle bore 53 housing a pin contact 55, and a cable bore 56 receiving the insulation of a cable 57 in waterseal relation. The bared conductor 59 passes through the bore 58 to the pin contact 55.

The elastomeric plug body 54 has a boss 60 mating with the receptacle bore 53, and provided with a socket contact 62 to receive the pin contact 55. The cable end of the plug body 54 has a cable bore 63 to receive the insulation of a small cable 64 in waterseal contact. Behind cable bore 63 is an enlarged bore 65 adapted alternately to receive the insulation of a larger cable in waterseal contact. The bared conductor 66 is connected to the socket contact 62.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector having facilities for selectively accommodating electrical cables of relatively larger or smaller diameters, the cables having an electrical conductor and a jacket of insulating material surrounding the conductor, the jacket of the selected cable being stripped back to bare a portion of the conductor and the selected cable being received telescopically within the connector and gripped in watertight engagement therewith, said connector comprising:

a body of insulating elastomeric material having an innermost hollow therein;

an electrical contact within the hollow of the body; and

a resiliently dilatable bore in said body communicating with said hollow and having stepped dimensions establishing relatively larger outer and relatively smaller inner bore portions of at least two different diameters, said bore including an innermost portion of smallest diameter at the innermost end of the bore, said innermost end being adjacent said hollow, the diiferent diameters of the bore portions corresponding to the larger and smaller diameters, respectively, of the cable jackets, the relative dimensions of the diameter of the jacket of each selected cable and each corresponding bore portion being such that a corresponding bore portion must be resiliently dilated to receive and engage the jacket of a selected cable in watertight relationship, the innermost bore portion having a diameter no smaller than the diameter of the conductor of the largest cable to be accommodated within the connector to allow passage of the conductor of any selected cable through the innermost bore portion and connection of the conductor to said electrical contact without further dilation of the bore portion engaged with the cable jacket.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the electrical contact includes a pin extending axially to engage a complementary socket of a complementary connector element.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the electrical contact includes a socket extending axially to be engaged by a complementary pin of a complementary connector element.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 including:

a plug of insulating elastomeric material received within the outer bore portion, the relative dimensions of the plug and the outer bore portion being such that said bore portion is resiliently dilated and engages the plug in watertight relation therewith, said plug including a resiliently dilatable cavity extending axially therethrough and having a diameter smaller than either of said inner or outer bore portions; and

a dowel member of insulating material received within the cavity, the relative dimensions of the cavity and the dowel member being such that the cavity is resiliently dilated and engages the dowel member in watertight relationship therewith.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein:

said body of insulating elastomeric material includes a plurality of bosses distributed along the body, each boss having at least one said bore therein; and

said electrical contact includes a bus bar embedded in said body and having a portion registered with each said bore.

6. The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein said bus bar includes a socket aligned with each said bore, and

means associated with each socket for clamping a conductor therein.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said means for clamping is a screw intercepting each said socket for urging the conductor received within the socket against the socket wall opposite the screw.

8. The electrical connector of claim 6 including a plug of insulating elastomeric material received within the outer bore portion of each said bore, the relative dimensions of each plug and each outer bore portion being such that each bore portion is resiliently dilated and engages the plug therein in watertight relation therewith.

9. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein each plug includes a resiliently dilatable cavity extending axially therethrough and having a diameter smaller than either of said inner or outer bore portions and a dowel member of insulating material received within each cavity, the relative dimensions of each cavity and each dowel member being such that each cavity is resiliently dilated and engages each dowel member in watertight relationship therewith.

10. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said means for clamping is a screw intercepting each said socket for urging the conductor received within the socket against the socket wall opposite the screw.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,000,031 8/1911 Mattman 339--242 2,602,104 7/1952 Hubbell et a1 24-125 X 2,635,132 4/1953 Rogoit 174-71 X 2,785,319 3/1957 Simpson et al. 2,952,830 9/1960 Sperzel et al 339256 X 3,184,535 5/1965 Worthington 339-276 X 3,243,756 3/1966 Ruete et a1 33960 FOREIGN PATENTS 506,086 9/1954 Canada.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner, 

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING FACILITIES FOR SELECTIVELY ACCOMMODATING ELECTRICAL CABLES OF RELATIVELY LARGER OR SMALLER DIAMETERS, THE CABLES HAVING AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR AND A JACKET OF INSULATING MATERIAL SURROUNDING THE CONDUCTOR, THE JACKET OF THE SELECTED CABLE BEING STRIPPED BACK TO BARE A PORTION OF THE CONDUCTOR AND THE SELECTED CABLE BEING RECEIVED TELESCOPICALLY WITHIN THE CONNECTOR AND GRIPPED IN WATERTIGHT ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SAID CONNECTOR COMPRISING: A BODY OF INSULATING ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL HAVING AN INNERMOST HOLLOW THEREIN; AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITHIN THE HOLLOW OF THE BODY; AND A RESILIENTLY DILATABLE BORE IN SAID BODY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOLLOW AND HAVING STEPPED DIMENSIONS ESTABLISHING RELATIVELY LARGER OUTER AND RELATIVELY SMALLER INNER BORE PORTIONS OF AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT DIAMETERS, SAID BORE INCLUDING AN INNERMOST PORTION OF SMALLEST DIAMETER AT THE INNERMOST END OF THE BORE, SAID INNERMOST END BEING ADJACENT SAID HOLLOW, THE DIFFERENT DIAMETERS OF THE BORE PORTIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE LARGER AND SMALLER DIAMETERS, RESPECTIVELY OF THE CABLE JACKETS, THE RELATIVE DIMENSIONS OF THE DIAMETER OF THE JACKET OF EACH SELECTED CABLE AND EACH CORRESPONDING BORE PORTION BEING SUCH THAT A CORRESPONDING BORE PORTION MUST BE RESILIENTLY DILATED TO RECEIVE AND ENGAGE THE JACKET OF A SELECTED CABLE IN WATERTIGHT RELATIONSHIP, THE INNERMOST BORE PORTION HAVING A DIAMETER NO SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE CONDUCTOR OF THE LARGEST CABLE TO BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE CONNECTOR TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF THE CONDUCTOR OF ANY SELECTED CABLE THROUGH THE INNERMOST BORE PORTION AND CONNECTION OF THE CONDUCTOR TO SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITHOUT FURTHER DILATION OF THE BORE PORTION ENGAGED WITH THE CABLE JACKET. 